Sheep 101

by Richard T. Morris, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)

A time-honored bedtime ritual gets a new twist in this rollicking mash-up of counting sheep and nursery rhyme characters.
One night, a boy counts sheep as he tries to fall asleep.99. 100. 101....Crash!
Sheep 101 is stuck in the fence. Will he ever get out and get the little boy to sleep? Meet Sheep 101 and his colorful cast of characters, like Humpty Dumpty, Blind Mouse, Little Piggy, and more!
From Richard T. Morris, author of This Is a Moose, and beloved illustrator LeUyen Pham comes a hilarious story with vibrant illustrations full of late-night hijinks that will spark every child's imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Counting, Nursery Rhymes

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2018

About the author

Richard T. Morris is the author of This Is a Moose and Bye-Bye, Baby! and a former E.B. White Award Honoree and Midwest Bookseller Choice Award winner. He lives in New Jersey with his family.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite what the title makes it sound like, this is not the companion textbook to an agriculture class. This is a story about Sheep 101, who runs into trouble while jumping over the fence. Chaos ensues, and it seems unlikely that anyone is going to fall asleep.

The pictures surprised me. I really like them! The characters are cute. The sheep are varied. Familiar characters make an appearance, everyone from Mother Goose to LEGO. The whole story takes place on a little boy's quilt as he's getting ready for bed, so the backdrops are simple and consistent, and the whole book is heavy on relaxing tones of sleepy blue and purple.

I'm not sure if this is really a read-aloud title, since the entire narrative is character dialogue (it's almost like a graphic novel). It's more the sort of thing kids could look at by themselves. But it's quite cute, and I enjoyed reading it and found myself smiling at 101's predicament.

Quotable moment:

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in grandma reads session.

This is a twisted tale based on the counting-sheep-to-sleep story. Here's the deal, though. None of the kids in my reading group knew that was a thing. I was so surprised! So before we could continue with the story, we had to talk about sleep, how they could use this as a tool to sleep if they needed it, and there was an abundance of doubt surrounding the whole topic. Not falling asleep is not an issue for these guys, so they stepped into the story warily.

Once launched, the tale is cute and filled with familiar characters pulled from other parts of literature, so that was satisfying, and the end worked for them.

One little sis looked at me and said, "100 sheep sounds like waaaaay too many. I think 5 is good. Try that. Bye!" I realized from my explanation (which usually always reflect my tendency to overthink everything) she thought I was keeping myself awake in order to accommodate the counting of all 100. Oh well.

3 stars.

[Chance Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems a little chaotic for a bedtime story, but what do I know? I'm trying to keep kids away during storytime so maybe I'll try it.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations make this book. The sheep are jumping the fence as the little boy, whose bed we are seeing is counting sheep to try to fall asleep. That is until sheep 101 (on the second read, notice the difference in sheep 101) gets stuck as he tries to leap the fence. The little boy's voice is the only thing that appears as he interjects his comments into the story. And the hilarity begins. SHEEP DOWN! And now other animals wander in from the Mother Goose book on the bedside table - the cow that usually jumps the moon, the pig who "wee wee wees" all the way home, one of the three blind mice, and Humpty Dumpty dressed like a sheep. A Code Red is issued to clear up the mess. And through all commotion, Sheep 101 falls asleep.
When you are done reading the book go back to the beginning end page and notice all the things in the picture that appear in the story and then go the closing end page and notice the repositioning of the items and how they "helped" in the story. This is quite inventive and a great deal of fun.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our goddaughters loved this book and had me read it a 2 or 3 times. *I* loved it - it was super hilarious and had many off-side comments and multiple voices (not just the narrator's). It was so great to read-aloud before bedtime!

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving it a 4 for the cute illustrations. This book relies heavily on chaos and more than likely young children will find that quite amusing.

I couldn't get an honest reaction from my daughter, I read it enthusiastically, did the voices, made the helicopter noises, all that. No laughter. Finally, at the end of the book, she lets me know that she didn't want to interrupt me, but, she's read this book a lot and is kind of tired of it. Ugh! So, yes, in future I will stash my 'to review' books a bit higher up so that I get a good initial reaction from kiddo.

BUT, there is something to be said for my reluctant reader sneaking the book and reading it alone without prompting. So, yeah, I would say it has solid kid appeal even if it's a bit too chaotic for my personal tastes.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny, as various nursery rhyme animals come to fill in after Sheep 101 gets stuck jumping over the fence. The art is perfect--complete with a Lego helicopter, and the whole thing ends sweetly with the sheep counting subject asleep in his bed, clutching a contentedly sleeping sheep. (Boy is African American,BTW.) If I had a book of the day running, this would be today's--and possibly tomorrows as well.

[Baladine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute little picture book is full of paratextual elements. The story actually starts in the front matter with a little boy who is unable to go to sleep. With full bleed illustrations we see the sheep that he counts struggling to get him to sleep. They eventually run out of sheep and favorite storybook characters make an appearance to jump over the fence so that the boy can go to sleep. The story ends on the end papers at the back of the book with the boy fast asleep.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this one up because I wanted to know if it was like two other sheep related picture books I read about a month ago. Well, it is not related but it was a pleasant surprise. The illustrations are adorable. I like how this story brings in characters from other children books. Not really a spoiler alert, but the blind mouse is too cute.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it hard to fall asleep with all this chaos, tbh.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't quite land with the 2 year old or with me.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one cracked me up! A little boy is trying to fall asleep by counting sheep when #101 gets caught in a fence. A cast of characters from various nursery rhymes infiltrates the counting and chaos ensues. It reminded me of trying to calm my brain on Sunday nights. Children will get a kick out of this one.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy is counting sheep to fall asleep, but then sheep number 101 crashes into the fence and gets stuck. The boy tells them not to stop and talk to each other, but soon even more is going wrong. A cow enters instead of a sheep, posing as number 103 and jumping the fence and the sheep easily. The pig who comes next can’t make it over Sheep 101 who is still stuck. When the blind mouse and Humpty Dumpty add to the chaos, someone has to help. Who could it be?

Filled with lots of humor and surprises, young listeners will love this book. It is a treat to read aloud with the characters talking directly to the reader and causing all sorts of problems along the way. The final twist will surprise everyone and places the book firmly into the world of today’s children. The illustrations are a treat, featuring lots of speech balloons, a weeping pig, a cow who does backflips, and a rather cross sheep. Share this one with a group of preschoolers for plenty of cheers! Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator is trying to fall asleep counting sheep, when sheep 101 gets stuck on the fence. From there on out the whole counting the sheep things falls into disarray as Sheep 102 doesn't want to leave a man behind, and then other nursery rhyme characters have to masquerade as sheep 103+ when the sheep run out but they aren't so good at the putting someone to sleep thing.

Such a fun concept, and I can see a sleepy kid coming up with this imagined scenario. Definitely won't put anyone to sleep, but it is sure to entertain. Pham's illustrations are perfect for the tone of this. Have fun with making and revising predictions with this story. Hand this to your favorite little reader who likes whacky and imaginative tales with some unexpected characters showing up.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheep 101 by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown, 2018. $18. 9780316213592

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The little boy has counted 100 sheep, but then 101 gets stuck in the fence and after that everything goes whack-o!

Such a fun mishmash of different nursery rhyme characters. SImple, droll, and easily appreciated by any reader. Can’t wait for bedtime!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you're awake so long, that you run out of sheep to count. And sometimes other animals have to help out. Which sometimes leads to chaos. Hopefully the little boy can eventually sleep and the sheep can sort themselves out. If not, poor Humpty Dumpty is going to be in trouble. Humpty Dumpty? What does he have to do with sheep. Exactly. A crazy fun romp through how sheep help a boy sleep...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book about what happens when one of the sheep that should be helping a child get to sleep gets stuck in the fence. There is a lot of humor in this book, but some of it seems a bit hard for the picture-book set to understand. I read it in storytime and I think we all enjoyed it, but I don't think the kids really understood the premise too well. It might work better with an individual kid in bed at night.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Sheep 101 gets stuck on the fence as he tries to jump over while helping someone go to sleep. Sheep 102 tries to help and from there the "sheep" look different. We see a cow, pig, blind mouse, Humpty Dumpty and the rescue crew come in to be sheep and save the day.

Younger readers will enjoy the humor in the simple text and illustrations.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and hilarious interactive bedtime book with lots of nods to traditional fairy tales as well as modern life (the cow jumping over the moon taking a picture with his cell phone is classic!). Strong characterization and clever illustrations throughout. Would be hilarious to read aloud at storytime!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in prose has humorous theme with a child counting sheep and after he reaches 100 there is a problem with sheep 101. The farm animals who come to the rescue are wild but the child falls asleep anyway. This short picture book has bright colorful illustrations and a story for all kids to read before bedtime.

[Charlie Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why was this so good? Let me count the ways: 1) The plot, and its derailment of the whole counting sheep thing. 2) The great illustrations. 3) The substitute sheep. 4) This was so fun to read, I'd be willing to read it every night! 5) It was absolutely NOT soporific. And 6) Six, where are you! Get up here, it's your turn!!!

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up almost entirely based on the illustrations. I love LeUyen Pham’s style from The Princess in Black series, and I recognized it immediately in this book. So fun and imaginative. ;) The plot of this was a little foggy for me at first, but I enjoyed it all the same and the nursery rhyme references were a plus.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious for adults! I had such a good laugh reading it! Sadly, I am not sure today’s children would understand the humor. References to nursery rhymes (which many children don’t know) add to the humor! This book also “crosses the third wall” - meaning it interacts with the reader. An enthusiastic read aloud by an adult that can explain as they go along would be great!!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hoot! Counting sheep will never be the same after you've gone through this adventure with the little boy in this picture book.

Sooooo funny. Cleverly and kindly original, too.

Five stars to outrageous author Richard T. Morris and also to superbly cheeky (yet never cartoonish) illustrator LeUyen Pham.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining breaking of the fourth wall and inclusion of other classic nursery rhyme characters... also legos. The end page illustration is a lovely conclusion of how all those characters got involved in the first place.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and silly - I like the lack of the fourth wall, but things also started to get kind of chaotic and then were just suddenly resolved. (But why is it over when the sheep falls asleep? Shouldn't it be the kid who falls asleep, and then everything's okay?)

[Melissa McAlvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this one was clever and fun, but it required a fair amount of explanation for Norah since she doesn't know about the "counting sheep" concept that the book is based on. she still enjoyed it, but maybe an older audience would enjoy it more...

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny bedtime book with nursery rhyme characters filling in when there's a shortage of sheep to count. There's a Lego-esque helicopter rescue, what else do you need?? (Bit tricky for very little ones who don't get the counting-sheep concept.)

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Toddler+

Sheep 101 falls on the fence, beginning a whole slew of silliness as a little boy tries to fall asleep. Speech bubbles and emotive illustrations make this great for reading aloud to a group in a variety of voices.

[Cecilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so the best part about this book was the helicopter people and sound effects. The rest of the story was just meh. But you should still check this book out from the library for the helicopter parts--very fun!